Valve-controlling device for engines and motors



July 17, 1928.

s. DIAMANT VALVE oN'xiRoLLlNG DEvIoEfFoR ENGINES AND uoToRs' Filedmoms, 1924A 5 sheets-sheet 1 July 17, 192s. 1,677,552

s. DIAMANT VALVE CONTROLLING DEVIE FOR ENGINES AND .IOTQRS- Filed Novfs., 1924:'. 5 snelste-sheet 2 SH01 Mq July 17, 1928. 1,677,552

' 4 S. DIAMANT VALVE coNTRoLLNG DEVICE FRUENGINES" AND uo'rons Filed NOV. 5, 1924 l 5 Shets-Sh'eet 5 July 17,1928. 1,677,552

l S.. DIAMANT VALVE conTR'oLLINcLDEVICEY Fon" ENGINES wveuorlgxs Filed Nom-5.1924 5 sheets-sheet 5 mima.. Uil-Ulli" l' lll l'l.

Fi g.

A v I gwvnoz l c W W I ttozmaq Patented July 17, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT oFElC E.

SIGISMONDO DIAMANT, F GENOA, ITALY, ASSIGNOR 0F ONE-HALF T0 CARLO SCOTT,

Y 0F GENOA, ITALY.

VALVEooia'inoLLiivGrl DEVICE ron ENGINES AND. iiio'rons..v

Application led November 5, 1924, Serial No. 747,958, and in Italy May 9, 1924. y y

The present invention relates to a controlling device manually or automatically operated for the valvesof internal combusn v 1 controlling deviceifor the inlet` valvel with tion engines of any kind.

In internal combustion engines provided with puppet valves, each cylinder is provided with an inlet and an exhaust valve, which open generally by moving vertically. These valves are suitably connected to a ldownwardly extending stem on Vwhich acts' a cam keyed on a secondary shaft called a cam shaft, driven from the inain motor shaft and revolving with'half the angular speed of this latter. Theangle at which the cams are keyed and their shape aresuitably chosenl according to .the operating conditions. As

thesev characteristics in the types yof engines now in use are fixed for each type, the actuation remains for any and each type of engine the same, at all speeds.

The object of the present invention is to provide improved means adapted to vary the timing of the actuation either for each speed of running or for reversing the movement. With the above and other objects in view the invention consists inthe construction, combination and arrangement of devices hereinafter described and claimed.

The drawings represent the device ,in its different positions and as applied to twov valve controls of a four-stroke explosion motor. In these' drawings: l

Figure 1 is an end elevation of the whole of the device to control the inlet valve.

Figure 2 is a plan view of Figure Figure 3 is a side view of the group vof two distributing levers for the inlet valve,

Figure 4 is an end view of. the whole of the two groups comprising the `four dis` tributing levers for the two valves of a cylinder, each group beingfconstituted by two arms that operated the same valve, one ofy which serves for the ahead rotation and the other for the reverseY rotation. i'

Figure 5 is an end elevation partly insection of the controllingy device Vfor the inlet Avalve' with the cam arranged formaxiinurn` angular speed. I

Figure 6' is a similar view showing the controlling device for the outlet valve with thev cam arranged for maximum angular speed. l

Figure 7 is a slmilar view showing lthe the cam arranged for angular v'minimum p speed.

Figure 8 1s a similar view showingthe controlhngdevice for the outlet valve with "the cani arranged for angular minimum controllingdevice for outlet valve but with the cam'arranged vfor reversed rotation at maximum speed. Y

` Figures 11, 12 and 13 are respectively vertical, transverse and horizontal sections, with Figure 10 isa similar View sho'wingithev portions in view, showing the complete as- 'K sembly relatingto. a cylinder ofthe motor with slightv constructional variations in Yrespect to the device shown in the previous figures. y f' Referring to the drawings and particularly to Figures 1, 2,3, 4, 11,12 and 13, M denotes the distribution or secondary shaft, that is controlled-by the main motor shaft;

Na and N8 indicate the outer ends of the distribution levers controlling respectively the inlet and exhaust valves of each cylinder' of the motor. These levers are usually formed as radialarms R, keyed on theshaft M at the proper angular positions and fitted at their ends with suitable rollers Na and Ns. According to thisinvention in order 'to provide means adapted to vary the distribution, theV secondary shaft M does .not act directly through a suitable cani on each valve stem`rrv V, but. acts through means of lan y intermediary member consisting' of a lever C, fulcrumed ona regulating shaft E parallel to M. This lever-C vbears with one of its ends, Cf?, against the valve stem V and is.; `controlled bygtheshaft M vby action of the rsaid radial distribution arm R, which vacts by means 'of the correspondent contact roller against ythe shaped surface ofa slide fastened ,to the :lever C, thus `imparting Vto :said

slide and attached lever C, C, rocking movement. This slide is constituted in two parts, indicates by the references A and B in the inlet valve controlling as shown in Figure 1, these tivo parts being pivoted in `the manner of scissor blades vat '1), ywhich pivot D is ixedto the lever C; and each of the said partsvA, B extend fromthe oppo- .site `side with aprojecting.member Af, Bf.

Thesev projections form the hilt coffthescissors.

In the drawings the parts ofthe-'slide -controlling the exhaust valve are indicated by the references i H and l'1, "and" their projecting l members respectivelyby H and I.

'A spring@ tends to Widen the aperture of thel slide and is opposed by a fixed camF 'fkeye'd on'the shaft E andV on Which bear 'the outer ends ofthefprojecting'member A,

The lever C, by its own Weight andthe thrustof' the valve/stem V, bears the'loWer Vsurface of its slide into ftherpath' of lthe corresponding arm R which,l by rotating, meets this surface With its roller7 causing thero'ck- Lingof the lever C and the lifting vwith its "Hat, en'd'C`the valve stem`V. rl`he opposite endlC of'the'lever Cis sockete'd to `:receive the end of a compressing spring S making "30.contact Withv a suitable nut T supported in the casing L of the engine. While the shaft "E is constantly maintained in a determined y position, the cam Falso remains in the-same ,positionand therefore-the aperture ofthe i355 mouth of the slide does not appreciably "vary, and thus, the roller of' the .corresponding arm'R on shaftM always meets the-same .shape o'f slide, and consequently'the valve stem -is always lifted to the same extent and 40 during the same angle ofrevolut-ion,x resulting fin a constant*distribution; :butit Will sufiiceto turn'the controlling shaft E at a vcertain anglein orderto vary the distance` f'thepoints oftheprojecting member, for

"'45 instance A, B', leaning on cam `F, thus lchanging the aperture of the scissors and the Vshape of the slide, and modifying the distribution, e

'Novv it is easily nnderstoodthat by giving,

1:50 as ist hereinafter more particularly described,

Qsuitablelshapes to .camslF for theV inlet and tothe cams F forthe exhaust, the distribuvtionlcould.be var-iedito any desired extent `"and in accordance'vviththel speedV ofirunning A "of" the motor.

V"ln order to reversethemovement ,of` the j motor, .other rotating arms are provided v mounted on .the shaftM, the operating'endsof .Which .'arms, 'respectively lNa and Ns, vvill '60 A'meet the slide surfaces of"thefcorresponding I'lever C, While the sliaftM. turns in reverse direction For obtaining 'the' properY :distribu- ""'tion alsoin' the reversed rotation ofthe motor,

A*these* arms ending in NawandlNs are, as ""55 'shown finrF1gure 4, diametrlcally opposed respectively to the arms ending in Ns and No controlling the same inlet and exhaust valves when the engine is running ahead. lThe cams F and F have a portion of theirfcontour suitably shaped for obtaining the aper- :tures of the scissors, and the shapes'of the slide convenient to the reverse motion.

"17 l I rlne rotatine' arms endl-n0` 1n l a; and N s :areislreyed onithezshaft 4Maat-thesamesideof .thei corresponding arms No and Ns, and so disposed that it is possible to place all of the farms 'for xvthe `reversed yrotation under the slides of the corres ondinolever C b caus- 4ingthe yslia"`ft"M"toslide axially-for the space corresponding to theequal distance between cash arm for 'the.ahea`d rotation and the relativey arm ,for-.the reverse rotation. Con-Y temporanecusly the shaft Eimust berotatcd to the angular position, l in which i the cams 'F and F give to the scssorsthe Asuitable aperture and consequently,l to theg slides the shapes adapted for thegreverse4 rotation, thus lenabling the engineto Arunjin reverse direction-atthe desired speed.

As will be seen-fromthe drawings, the dei vice accordingtodie[present invention may assume, correspondingly tothe position Vof slipper', different shapes of contact surfacesV Vvfor controlling theinlet and exhaust valves.V

tenedand so shaped as to "formtogethcr a curved surface' havingits concavity directed downwardly, said surface .constituting a slipper or slide, the'highest point ofwhich 1s place'd substantially on'ther vertical vrline Abeneath thepivotfso as to Vcorrespondto the end. of the'two lialf-slide'sor slippers. The

internal surfafes of. the slides. are lof the form of a cvlinder Whose axiscorrespondsWith' the axis thebea'ring' pivot.

"and consegquently5v having het tinuous one. y y

approximately compared to van .arcl of` circle By such arrangement, 'Whetherrhe said "levers areapproaching orreceding, the `curve formed Yby the tivojpartsof the .slidecan bf,- modiied,tlio h remaining alwavs a con Each ofthcsc vcurves can be Whose vradius larger than the'radus of the circle describedv bythe peripheral point of the rotatingarmffyvhich contactsV with the" l surface of the slide. Because l'of'."the'4 said difference of the radii, ,the roller ivlliraise the surface of the 'slideand consequently the valve to a heightcorresponding tothe differ'- yence ofthe heights' of the arc-V of the crut'r-h' "and-ofthat desl of the roller-"olA ved bythe peripheral point chel varm, between "fthe first and the last pointof `contact' Witheach other, i the `chords equal to" theI distance of these tivo points.

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I-ifi It follows that the point of the arc which comes i'irst into contact with each roller rep` momentof the valve which takes place after the guide' the roller has passed over all of surfaces between the said points. The chord of the arc of Contact thus indicates the period during which the valve is open.

It is obvious that in order to modify the form of the Contact surface which constitu tes the slide, it is suilicient to cause the two levers of the system to be brought cl0sertogether or to move them farther apart, and in fact, by bringing the levers nearer to` gether the chord of the are is prolonged, and thus thel opening period is increased, while if they are moved apart, the chord is shortened and thus the opening period is decreased. i

The adjustment of the levers to bring them together or move them farther apart can be effected either by movingfone of the vsaid levers, or by moving both levers, the one independently of the other, whereby, in addition to the increasing or diminishing of the opening period there is obtained an ad Vance or a delay of the .closing period to a degree that is found suitable.

In order to effect this, the two levers are so arranged with bayonet joint fittings that they are alongside each other and are yet so placed that their ends come inv the` same vertical place so that between one and the other lever there can be arranged a cam against which the said two levers are forced by means of a suitable compressing .spring with contact points diagonally opposite. Said cam is keyed on the regulating shaft and suitably shaped on the enea-nd onthe other of its peripheral halves in suc-liman-A by its rotation, the mov ner as to produce, ing apart or the bringing together ofthe said two lever ends, the one independently of the other and consequently varying the form of the corresponding slide or slipper surface. y

It is to be understood that the levers instead of being tittedwith bayonet-like joints Vcould be disposed in any other suitable form provided the two cam shapes which are then used respectively to actuate said surfaces are so placed ing of said surfaces. If, for instance,said levers should be right they couldbedriven the one independently of the other by means ".of a proper cam and in this case the shape of each cam should be developed along all of the cam periphery instead of one half' only of said periphery.

y Referring to Figures 5, 6, 7 8,- 9 and 10,

the working or operation of the apparatus is as follows: y

The regulating shaft E together with the cams F and F are placed as shown in Figas to equally Acause the work-k f is in one piece with the lever, and is'plaoed The `form-of the beary is such that the distrib;y

comes vinto contact atthe position 2. ing slipper I-H uting roller, by turning, with it at the position N', thus 'beginnin'A the valve opening. In the drawing the sai position is shown as placedl at vinfront of the dead the line O and it corres onds with of expansion period. l

When the roller has arrived at'the position n, (the end of the period)which is shown on'the drawing as at 5 past the dead centerO (10 of the crank), the roller `itself leaves the slide or slipper and the valve is closed. The maximum rise of the valve is reached at the position N4.

As soon as the exhaust period is finished,V the inlet period then begins. The c am F, Figper .beginning to open vthe valve at the position N at 5 (crank 10) pastrthe dead center O and will leave the slipper closing the valve at the position n-20 crank40r) vpast the dead center O when the piston has already begun the compremion period.

These opening and closing moments of the valve are those usually adopted by the builders of motors that have a speed 'of about 1500 revolutions perminute. If such motors should reducev vtheir angular speed center which `is indicated by the motor crank yshaftvk be ore the end of the All also ymaintainingl unchanged the aforesaid moments, the vturning moment would rapid-` ly decrease and in` such a way that at 300 orf/100 revolutions per minute said moment should be almost zero.

In order to avoid such a great' disadvantage and obtain at any angular speed a maximum vturningmoment proportioned to the useful volume of the-cylinder as well as to the piston` area, byy utilizing the device according to the present invention, the regulating shaft E will be gradually turned in vthe direction of the arrowand in relation to :.thew-iiied Iangular speed. A'The cainssuitably shaped fwill: then successively.h so. dispose the slides or slippers as to effect the valve opening iand closing `at the moet` appropriate tl moments.

4loslides take up the positions 3, 3..

:Figures 7 and-8y shoWthe position of thev cams .fora minimum angular speed. vThe -levers are resting on the cams in positions corresponding to the points .3, 3 vand the i In. this case-.the exhaust. valve .Figure vS Will open .fat-'7O (crank 140) before tliie end=ofl the e):- Ihaust phase and will closest 3 v(crank 6) 'after the dead: center O. The linlet-valve `at the .beginiining of the period and 'Will Iclose ,at .7 (cra-nlr-` 14?) .at the end.

.Byiturning the regulating shaft lE further inthe direction `of the arroivszand changing 20 thefleverrcontact;position from the positions 'LBfSVtOA/,'lf.and thel slides to the positions 4;, `iwfthere?will;belgraduallyy obtained the changed conformation. 'of' the slippers for the reversed rotation `of the motor. lFigures ;:9iandilOfshowtprecisely tliei positions of the cams as 'Welles ofthe slippers arranged for the niaXimum angular speed in the reverse fy direction. p V

"By vturning the -,.niotor .in :the reversed ieu direction alsothe oam-sliaft=ivill turn: in the A;saineWdiie'ction.j Therrollers Naa and Ne -wvhichare now brought into iact-ionf'by slidyingthesliaftfhffaxially, Will'inake contact andfvvillr open ther valves at the posit-ions N3 lmaand ivillleavethe slippers for closing .the

Avalves at the kposition a. .Also in this case and in connection .'Withtlie Whole range of l theangular speed from inaxiiniunto mininiumthe' valves Will open :and close during the ahead direction.

In Figures 5 and fthere Yis,represented .by'dotted lines, also the ,positions of the slip pers yand ofthe :corresponding rollers siini-V Y lar to Figures 7 .and -8 1.0 respectively.

-The opening..andV closing periods'of the valveheretofore described are only given naturallyby way of example. Any period mayj be ,chosen laccording 'to Vjudgment' and andxtoA Figures 9l and 5U" experience.

. @and dimensions 1 of =the various members conof a Vrevolution only (about b waarmee fstituting the valveA controlliing device, and 4 this Without i departing from rthe lfundainental principles of the 'present `invention as .claimed .i111 the E following claims.

. '.Having` now rparticularly .describedand ,ascertained the nature of iny-said invention land in Whatmanner-.the saine. is to beipern `ffoi=iiied,l `declare that what I vclaim is:-

l. Internalr'combustion engine valve controlling mechanism comprisinga valve oper- 'ating wlever, ,1a regulating shaft on :which saidsleveris pivotally'mountedka cani :fast to said shaft,-a pair of crossed controlled levers .n pivotally. connected f together at` their f Joint of. intersection, said controlling Ilevers 'earingiat one end Ion said cam atv points on opposite sides of 'said' regulating shaft :and being#providedy atf their yopposite ends Jivith slides, Va distribution fshaft, andrfmeafns on.y

said distribution shaft to consecutivelycon-V tact ywith said slides' an'd :thereby factuate :said controllinglevers =anduhence said'valve 'operating leven]V Y v: 2. Internalf combustioncengine":valve controlling ,mechanism vcomprising .an `inlet valve operating lever and `an! exhaust vvvalve .1 operating lever, a regulating'shaftoon which said levers arcpivota'lly. mounted, cainsfast to said shaft,=rarpafir :ofi crossed controlling levers associated With eachvalve operating lever, each :pair ofsaid 'controlling Lleve-rs fbeing pi'votally connected togetherI at their point. sof. intersectionvandsaidl pairs of controlling levershavfing :a lcommon pivot at their points .of f'intersection, each pair of said controllin levers bearino at one 'end on one of said canislat `points on opposite sides ofsaid` regulating shaft and beingprovid'ed 'at their opposite ends with slides, al distribution-sliaftand means Lon said distribution sha-ft lto consecutivelyv Contact with the slides-.of one pair of said controlling levers andv therebyl actuate'said controlling levers and hence' also said valve operating levers.

' 3. Internal `combustionl engine valve controlling` mechanism compr-isinga valve operating lever, a regulating sha-ft on which said lever is pivotally mounted, a-'ca'm fast vto -sa-id `shaft, 4a pair of crossed v'controlling levers pivotally connected *together lattheir point of intersection, a A'spring causing said controlling levers tobear at one end on said cam at points onoppositesides'of'said regulating shaft,l -sai'd controlling flevers eing provided at their-opposite' endsfivith lvslides, a distribution shaft, and meansv on said shaft to consecutively `Contact with said slides and thereby actuate said controlling levers and hence also fsaid Vvalve operating lever,

4.. In a device for controlling the opening of the distributing valves of internal com* bustion engines to vary the amplitude and the position in the cycle of the distribution phasesand hence allowthe` engine to fdea 1 a ,simil Velermeamumipwet; the system .fQr 10,011; trolling the v.Said V'Valaesiccmprisus a Pllr; ra-lity- 0f leversarms dsttihutionshatt 0n which Said ,leves ,af'lsaretimeuntdand ala-,i waged. t0., turn with` the, main i,moter..Shiilft and a plurality 0f shaped surfacesithmughi. Whih therenns .0fY the:L `'v.i,l..vS.iS regulated t and rongwhicnh ,act the, aforesaidf lever arms the shaped surfaces beingkzfo-rmedby a suc-jy @essen ,of @Qnsecuiive mariniers @hamac-f, justable, relatively toleach othery insuch a manner `,asv to vary suitably. theupositionlof the. said activel surfaces and thereby4 vary the` Share ofthe @cutest Surface @Se Whole, according to l the,l speedl and ,turningl'direcf tion of'tliejmotor, in order tofobtaina constant volume efficiency at all angular speeds or in ,either direction of rotatiom,

5. In a device for controlling the opening of the distributing valves of engines of any kind in order to vary the amplitude and the position in the cycle of the distribution phases, by letting in at the most suitable time always a determined amount of fuel miizture at any angular speed so that the cylinders may never work incompletely filled, thus allowing the engine to develop always its maximum power; a system for control-v ling the said valves constitutedby a lever arm device mounted upon the distribution shaft and turning with it in connection with the main motor shaft, the active part of the said ar'm acting upon a plurality of shapedV surfaces formed by a succession of consecutive members that actuate the valves and are adjustable relatively to each other in order to change conveniently position of the said Contact surfaces and thereby vary the shape of the contact surface as a whole according to the angular speed of the main motor shaft; the said consecutive members that bear the portions of the active shaped surfaces being supported by a leverV which actuates by one of its ends the stem of the valve.

6. In a device for controlling the opening of the distributing valves of engines of any kind inorder to vary the amplitudeand the position in the cycle of the ,distribution phase, allowing-the engine to develop always its maximum power by obtaining a constant volume efficiency at all angular speeds and in either direction of rotation; a system for controlling the said valves constituted by plurality lever arms mounted upon the distribution shaft a and turning with itin connection with the main motor` shaft; a plurality of shaped surfaces through which the time of opening'of the valves is controlled and upon which the aforesaid rotating arms, operate. shaped surfaces formed by a succession of consecutive members constituted in the form of fscissorblades mounted upon a journal that is supported by the same lever that actuates the rammstein and theiscissQr-hlade:members baies afliustelileireletivelyi tofeahiother 11 Such `inruilen as; .to Changeiconvenently their,

bastion ,engines @f any kindin ardente-vary the amplitude and theposition therlcyclen/ f of the distribution phases, ,allowingi ,thglen-g gine to develop alwaysits maaiinumpowerg vby .Obtaining a-.COnStantf-ivelueie eflieiisyt vall'angular speeds orfinjreitlrer directio lof: ,Sr-1

rotation; 'fr system fr ofvfrelles there d valves which'is constitutedbyfa lever, m1,.,

device. mounted filpn the] distributies-114i and turningwith it inconnection With th main motor shaft; a plurality of shaped contact surfaces formed by a ,succession of .conf secutivelmembers constituted in the form Y of scissor-blades in such a Way that the ortions of theshaped contact surfaces might have any required position for letting in a.- determined amount of fuel mixture at the different angular speeds and turning direction of the motor.

8.` In a device for controlling the opening of the distributing valves ofy internal combustion engines of any lkind in order to vary the amplitude and the position in the cycle of the distribution phrases to permit the engine to develop' always its maximum power by obtaining a constant volumeefi-- ciency at all angular speedsor in either direction of rotation; `the arrangement upon the distribution shaft of a plurality of lever arms acting upon a plurality of shaped conv tact surfaces thatare formed by a succession of consecutive members constituted in the ,Y

'ofV the said arms being drawn nearer together or moved farther apart in accordance with the amount of work andthe direction of rotation of the motor by means of cams of anyknown kind, mounted on rarregulating shaftupon which is loosely mounted the supporting lever, in order to change the position of the said contact "surfaces according to the speed and the turning direction of the motor. Y n 9. In a devicefor controlling the opening of'the distributing valves of internal combustion engines of any kind in order to varythe amplitude and the position in the cycle of the distributing phases so as to permit the engine to develop its maximum power by obtaining a constant volume efliciency at all angular speeds and in either direction of rotation, the said controlling being effected by means of lever arms acting upon a 'plurality of shaped contact surfaces, the form of which can be varied according to the angular speed of the motor shaft; the arrangement of the said lever arms that act upon the shaped surfaces mounted parallel vto the distribution shaft and upon a journal Which can be displaced axially in order that the said lever arms may actuate either the shaped surfaces for the ahead rotation or those for the reverse. Y

10. In a device for controlling the opening of the distributing valves of engines of any kind in order to vary the amplitude and the position in the cycle of the distribution phases to permit to the engine to develop its maximum power at all angular speeds and in either direction of rotation, 'the said controlling heing effected by means of a plus rality of lever arms acting upon a plurality of shaped contact surfaces,\ the form of Which can he changed in connection With which the shape of the total surface upon` which the said rotating arms act is varied, in order to let into the cylinders the rev quired amount of fuel mixture.

In Witness whereof I affix my signature.

SIGIS'MONDO DIAMANT. 

